Field Tour Report Kallar Kahar

Submitted By:

Sadia Rahat (43)

Table of Contents

Sr. No: Topic Pg. No:

1 Introduction

Location of kalar kahar

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2

Climate of kalar kahar

2 Kalar Kahar Lake Formation 6

3 Biodiversity of kalar kahar

Class pisces Class amphibia Class reptilia Class aves Class mammalia

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4 Resident species 12

5 Visitor species 13

6 Issues and threats 13

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Introduction

Kallar kahar location:-

Kallar Kahar Lake is a part of the overall Salt Range Wetlands Complex and

is located in District Chakwal covering an area of 85 hectares. It is also

capital of Kallar Kahar Tehsil. The Lake was declared as a Game Reserve on

31st May, 2006 under section 18 of the Punjab Wildlife (Protection,

Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act, 1974. Located in Punjab

Province at a distance of 25 km north to Chakwal city. Kallar Kahar Lake is

situated at a distance of about 135 km from Rawalpindi via Chakwal road

whereas 100km from Islamabad by Motorway to the south and from

Chakwal it is about 30kms to the south-west on Chakwal-Sargodha road. It

is located between 32o 46’ 30.31North latitude and 72o 42’ 23.80 East

longitude at an altitude of 554 m above sea level.The lake is located at the

edge of Potowar Plateau and the Salt Range.

Climate of kalar kahar :-

The climate of the area is sub-humid sub-tropical continental type

with hot to moderate summer and severe winter. The thirty-year average

precipitation was 853 mm for the Salt Range region but is estimated 500

mm for Kallar Kahar.

Rainy seasons of kalar kahar :-

There are two rainy seasons in kalar kahar.

1. Summer season.

2. Winter season.

The summer season or the monsoon rains start by about mid July and last

until the mid of September. Most of the precipitation is received during

July, August and September. The winter rains begin in January and persist

up to beginning of March. May is the driest month of the year.

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Temperature :-

The mean monthly temperature varies between 5.9 - 38.4oC,

January being the coldest and June the hottest month of the year. During

winters the temperature often drops to below zero, usually in December

and January.

*Table shows annual temperature of kalar kahar.

Month Temperature

Min (0C)

Mean

temperature (0C)

Temperature

Max (0C)

January3.1 10.2 17.3

February 5.6 12.4 19.3

March 10.8 17.5 24.2

April 15.9 23 30.2

May 20.7 28.2 35.7

June 25 32 39

July 25 30 35

August 24.1 28.6 33.1

September 22 27.7 33.4

October 15.6 23.1 30.7

November 8.6 16.8 25

December 4 11.7 19.5

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Kalar Kahar Lake Formation

Margilla hill:

Margilla hills are located in hilly terrain of pothwar region. In the south of Margilla hills salt range is present which dip towards north. It has monoclinic nature.

Salt range:

In the east of salt range River Jhelum is present while on the west River Indus is located. Central part of salt range move towards east. Strike slip is present on both sides of it.

Formation of lake:

In the salt range due to movement fractures and depressions are developed (failed drift). If vertical movement occur than fractures may develop. If stretching occurs then depressions may occur which develop lakes one of which is Kalarkahar Lake. (Faulted contact of younger rock with older rocks). Peacocks and snake found in kalarkahar lake shows biodiversity.

Climate of salt range is different from Punjab plain and Pothwar plateau. Climateis warmer in Punjab plain; katas is the warmest place in Punjab plain.

Behavior of lake is not good due to pollution.

Biodiversity of kalar kahar

Biodiversity of kalah kahar include animals belonging to following classes.

Class Pisces

Survey of fish fauna was undertaken during August 2007 and the major

objective was to enlist and describe existing fish species in the lake.

1. Indigenous fish fauna.2. Introduced fish fauna.

Indigenous fish fauna :-

I. Cyprinion watsoni locally known as SabzugII. Crossocheilus latius locally known as Dogra

III. Puntius vittatus locally known as Popra

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Introduced fish fauna :-

I. Cyprinus carpio locally known as Common CarpII. Oreochromis mossambicus locally known as Tilapia

Taxonomy :-

Kingdom : Animalia

Phylm : Chordata

Subphylum : Vertebrate

Class : Pisces

Characteristics of fish :-

a) Fish are mostly ectothermic.

b) They have gill slits which they use to breathe by drawing out oxygen

from the water around them.

c) All fish are vertebrates.

d) Most are covered in scales while some can be covered in skin.

e) Their limbs end in fins and not in digits.

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Class Amphibian

Frog:-

Scientific name : Rana tigrina

Taxonomy :-

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Amphibia

Sub-class: Lissamphibia

Order: Anura

Characteristics of frog :-

a. Two bulging eyes high, round eyes.

b. Strong, long, webbed hind feet that are adapted for leaping and

swimming.

c. Smooth or slimy skin.

d. Need to live by water.

e. Teeeth in upper jaw.

f. Long legs.

g. Frogs have sucker-like adhesive disks, or suction pads, which aid in the

climbing of vertical surfaces, on the tips of their fingers and toes.

Class Reptilian8

Snake :-

Scientific name :- Serpentes

Taxonomy :-

Kingdom : Animalia

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Reptilia

Order : Squamata

Superfamily : Varanoidea

Characteristics of snake :-

a. The skeleton of most snakes

consists solely of the skull, hyoid, vertebral column, and ribs.

b. skin of a snake is covered in scales.

c. The eyelids of a snake are transparent “spectacle” scales, which remain

permanently closed, also known as brille.

d. Snake is cold blooded.

e. It has an inner ear which detects sound from sound waves hitting its

skin.

Class Aves

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Ostrich:-

Scientific name: - Struthio camelus

Taxonomy:-

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Sub-phylum: Vertebrate

Class: Aves

Super order: Paleognathae

Order: Struthioniformes

Family: Struthionidae

Genus: Struthio

Species: S.camelus

Characteristics of ostrich:-

The ostrich is the largest living bird, weighing up to 300 pounds and standing as tall as eight feet

Females are gray-brown, and males are black with white tail and wing feathers.

The wings are used for a great variety of highly developed displays, but not for flying.

The head is small, with large eyes and a short, flat bill. Their powerful legs make them capable of running up to 40 miles per

hour.

Peacock:-

Taxonomy:-

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Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Galliformes

Family: Phasianidae

Subfamily: Phasianinae

Genus: Pavo

Species: Pavo cristatus , Pavo muticus

Characteristics of Peacock:-

The way to best spot a peacock is by looking at his tail, or "train." Feathers that are many feet long drag behind the peacock as he struts.

Peacocks are one of the largest flying birds in the world. They move rather slowly, thus creating an appearance ofstrutting. His tail feathers when fanned out extend more than 5 feet. The bird has a relatively long neck. Peacock feet are three-toed, long and scraggly, rather like emu feet.

Class Mammalian

Punjab Urial :-

Scientific name: Ovis vignei

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Taxonomy:-

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Bovidae

Genus: Ovis

Species: O. orientalis

Characteristics of Punjab Urial :-

It has horns, no duh, but as a responce to the cold weather in winter, its fur turns gray.

Urial males have large horns, curling outwards from the top of the head turning in to end somewhere behind the head.

Females have shorter, compressed horns. The horns of the males may be up to 100 cm (39 in) long. The shoulder height of an adult male urial is between 80 and 90 cm (31

and 35 in).

Resident Species:

Among the resident species, House Crow, House Sparrow, Common Myna,Indian Kite, Purple Sunbird, Red-vented Bulbul, White-cheeked Bulbul, Red-wattled Lapwing, Cattle Egret, Pond Heron, were very common. Blackshouldered, Grey Partridge, Pheasant Crow, Hoopoe, Black Partridge, Brown-rock Chat, Robin, Indian Nightjar, Tailor Bird, Indian Reef Heron, Coppersmith Barbet and White-Eyed were recorded as rare in the area.

Visitor species :- Little Green Bee-Eater, Common Koel, Bee-Eater, were recorded; only Little Green Bee-Eater was found in good numbers.Among the passage migrant, only Grey Heron was recorded, it is also considered as wintervisitor to Pakistan. Among the winter visitors, Coot, Common

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Pochard, Common sandpiper,Mallard,Indian Redstart, Yellow Wagtail and Large-pied Wagtail were recorded.

Issues and threat

Illegal hunting and poaching of wildlife. Clearing of forest land from catchment area. Extraction of fuelwood from catchment area. Illegal livestock grazing in and around the Protected Area Lack of information about the biodiversity of the area. Zonation of the Kallar Kahar Game Reserve. Introduction of exotic fish species. Presence of invasive species. Non biodegradable pollution originating from a broad range of

human activities. Encroachment into the lake. Poverty and limited livelihood opportunities. Diversion of water for fruit orchards and other agricultural uses.

Illegal cutting of wetlands vegetation for community-based products.

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